Hey all,
I wanted to introduce my guest blogger, writer and exercise guru Jim Rollince of Gym Source. As head of creative writing at Gym Source, Jim has been featured on blogs such as Fit Perez (yes, Perez Hilton for all of you Celebrity Gossip lovers out there!) to help spread the word on the importance of exercise–both inside and outside our homes–and its effects on our health and well-being. Thank you, Jim, for your unique contribution! (BB loves exercise and fitness.) Enjoy!
Exercise: Get Outside and Feel Great
By: Jim Rollince
Researchers have always been studying the effects of regular, consistent exercise. While many suspected that exercise had a positive impact on exercisers’ overall health and well-being, few predicted that the results would be as dramatic as they are. Exercise, according to research, has a significant impact on many aspects of one’s health. Some researchers predicted that exercise could help strengthen the heart and reduce the incidence of heart disease, but few predicted the anti-cancer benefits that exercise provides.
For those who wish to spend more time outdoors, exercise provides a valuable means to accomplish this goal. The best way to start, for most, is to simply go for a walk. Exercise need not be nearly as strenuous as many imagine in order to have a beneficial effect on one’s health. As long as the heart rate is elevated slightly, the exercise is effective. Many also come to enjoy walks for their relaxing nature, and the symbiotic impact of walking and enjoying scenery has a wonderful affect on one’s mental health as well.
Those who wish for a more demanding exercise can give running a shot. Beginning runners often have trouble imagining what their more experienced running friends are talking about when they discuss how much they love to run, but the rewards eventually begin to add up. Further, running is conducive to goals, and those who strive to constantly improve themselves will find that their steady progress makes running worthwhile.
Others prefer water activities, and there are wide ranges of exercises one can accomplish in a pool, in a lake or at the beach. Swimming is a great exercise that gets the heart pumping quickly. It is considered to be great exercises for those with asthma; the humidity of water helps keep asthma symptoms at bay. Running primarily uses lower body muscles while swimming provides more of a full body workout. Those who have a pool can enjoy swimming a few laps at any time of day. For those in warmer locations, swimming can be especially relaxing.
Exercisers who live near a lake can buy or rent a canoe, kayak or rowboat to exercise while enjoying the outdoor scenery. These small, manually powered boats are relatively cheap and provide a lifetime of access to beautiful natural spots. Additionally, they are great vehicles to develop an exercise program as relaxing or as strenuous as one desires. They are also great for social activities, and it is easier to get friends to come along on a canoeing or rowing trip than it is to get them to come along on a jog.
The beach provides a wide range of great exercising opportunities. When the water is relatively flat, boats function well in the ocean. If waves are present, surfing provides good cardiovascular exercise. Those who would prefer to stay dry can instead play beach volleyball or other beach sports. Beach sand provides a cushion that actually makes exercise more strenuous; runners will find themselves tiring more quickly than they would if they were running on a hard surface.
Not everyone has access to natural scenery throughout the entire year. People living in the Northeast and Midwest United States may find it simple too cold to exercise during winter months. Fortunately, home gym equipment and other exercises tools allow them to maintain a full exercise program no matter how cold it is. Cardiovascular exercise equipment, such as treadmills and ellipticals, allow those who wish to exercise to do so while watching television. These machines are just as effective as running outdoors, and many find that their convenience helps them maintain their workout programs.
The most important part of successfully exercising is to keep up the effort on a consistent basis. While periodic exercise is better than no exercise at all, light, consistent workouts are more effective than sporadic, inconsistent workouts. If running three times a week is not maintainable for someone, he or she will be better off simply walking three times a week instead.
